Extremely early and comprehensive run of 117 issues of Baseball Magazine, representing ninety-seven different magazines, spanning the years 1908 through 1918, including the first issue: May 1908. Any and all issues of Baseball Magazine dating prior to 1920 are exceedingly rare, and this is the largest such offering from that early time period, by far, that we have ever handled! For over fifty years, beginning in 1908, Baseball Magazine was the voice of the National Pastime, documenting every nuance of the game and its history in word and photographs. Today, Baseball Magazine is no longer published, but old issues open a window to history that is unrivaled, providing information and photos that often can be found nowhere else. Its research value aside, collectors have always prized the magazine for the tremendous display value of its classic covers. The issues offered here are no exception! While the majority of the cover illustrations are generic in nature (especially for the earlier years), many picture future Hall of Famers, either alone or with other players. One of the cover highlights in this collection is the December 1917 issue, which is dedicated to the World Champion Chicago White Sox. The design features a large illustration of White Sox team owner Charles Comiskey, below which are photographic portraits of five members of the club: Joe Jackson, Manager Pants Rowland, Eddie Collins, Eddie Cicotte, and Red Faber. Other Hall of Fame players featured on the covers in this collection, some more than once, are Ty Cobb (twice), John McGraw, George Sisler (twice), Tris Speaker, Grover Alexander, Edd Roush, Sam Crawford, Rabbit Maranville, Eddie Collins, Harry Hooper, Frank Chance, and Cy Young. While all of the issues display flaws commensurate with their age and fragile nature, including, but not limited to, small tears to both the covers and pages (mostly edge tears, although a few issues display larger tears, including paper loss), creases, and toning to the pages, they are all remarkable in that every one is complete with its original covers firmly attached, with the exception of four (which are missing only the back cover). We note that one of the February 1917 issues is missing its title page, but otherwise all appear to be complete as issued. Technically, the magazines range from Fr to Vg-EX, averaging Gd-Vg, but all present extremely well and are easily readable, as well as ideal for display. The magazines offered here, with the number for each (if more than one) noted in parenthesis, are as follows: 1908 (7 issues): May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct. (back cover missing), and Dec. 1909 (7 issues): Jan., Feb., June, July, Aug., Sept., and Nov. 1910 (7 issues): Feb., June, July, Aug., Sept. (back cover missing), Oct., and Nov. (back cover missing). 1911 (9 issues): Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Sept., and Dec. 1912 (9 issues): Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Aug., and Oct. 1913 (9 issues): Feb., Mar., May, June, July, Aug., Oct., Nov., and Dec. 1914 (13 issues): Jan. (2), Feb., Mar., Apr., May, July (2), Aug. (2), Sep., and Oct. (2). 1915 (13 issues): Feb., Mar. (2), May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct. (3), Nov. (missing back cover), and Dec. 1916 (10 issues): Feb. (2), Apr., June, July, Sept., Oct. (2), and Nov. (2). 1917 (21 issues): Jan., Feb (2), Mar. (2), Apr., May (2), June (2), July (2), Aug. (2), Sept. (2), Oct. (2), Nov. (2), and Dec. 1918 (12 issues): Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July (2), Aug., Sept., Oct., and Nov. This is a remarkable comprehensive collection of early Baseball Magazine issues, the likes of which are seldom, if ever, seen at public auction. Total: 117 issues (97 different). Reserve $2,000. Estimate (open). SOLD FOR $11,850.00

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